Be kind to the unkind

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught, 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you' (Luke 6:27-28 NIV). Then he added, 'Your reward will be great' (Luke 6:35 NIV). God sees, he records, and he'll reward you for every kind act you do. It's easy to be kind to those who are kind to us, but you must grow in grace in order to be kind to the people who mistreat you.In the comic strip Nancy, Sluggo once told Nancy, 'That new kid in school is nothing but a big fathead!' Nancy replied, 'You shouldn't call people names like that. I never call people names.' Sluggo replied, 'Well, I just got mad when he said you were stupid looking.' Whereupon Nancy demanded, 'What else did that big fathead say?' It's easy to react to acts of kindness with kindness. The real challenge is responding with kindness to those who lack it. Os Guinness in The Case for Civility wrote about politicians as society's role models: 'Name-calling, insult, ridicule, guilt by association, caricature, innuendo, accusation, denunciation, negative ads, and deceptive and manipulative videos have replaced deliberation and debate. Neither side talks to the other side, only about them.' Civility - being respectful whether we agree with another person or not - is a good policy!Every one of us has a 'kindness kit' we carry with us everywhere we go. It's better known as our tongue. Never underestimate the power of one kind word.